Article of clothing

ABSTRACT

A sleeveless, waist-length garment having sealing means for sealing the waist and arm openings and having a drawcord disposed about the neck opening.

United States Patent Bernadine J. Richards 9 West Street, Plymouth, Mass. 02360; Bernadette T. O'Neil, 62 Ludam St.,

[72] Inventors Lowell, Mass. 01850 [21] App]. No. 67,350 [22] Filed Aug. 27, 1970 [45] Patented Jan. 11, 1972 [54] ARTICLE OF CLOTHING 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.5. CI 2/105, 2/69.5 [51] Int. Cl A41d 1/22 [50] Field of Search 2/105, 106,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,446,209 8/1948 Brown 2/105 3,074,450 1/1963 Wilkaitis et a1. 2/106 X 3,218,651 11/1965 Yesayan 2/105 X 3,381,306 5/1968 Innes 2/69 Primary Exam iner Richard J. Scanlan, Jr. Attorney-W. R. Hulbert ABSTRACT: A sleeveless, waist-length garment having sealing means for sealing the waist and arm openings and having a drawcord disposed about the neck opening.

PATENIEU Jun 1 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 4 PATENTEU AN 1 I972 SHEET 2 [IF 4 [FIG. 2

PATENTED JAM I I972 SHEET 3 OF 4 [FIG. 3

ARTICLE or CLOTHING This invention relates to an article of clothing.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide an article of clothing which has specific utility in a plurality of different situations.

According to one aspect of the invention an article of clothing is provided which is of the generally pleasing appearance, incorporates various features providing aids to the wearer when the wearer is engaged in a number of different activities, and which is convertible into a carryall or totebag.

More specifically, the invention features a sleeveless, waistlength garment which includes sealing means whereby the arm and waist openings of the garment may be sealed. There is also included a decorative draw cord which is disposed around substantially the entire neck opening of the garment. In preferred embodiments of the invention, there is also provided a scalable pouch at the front waistline portion of the garment, and at least one work retaining loop attached to the garment in a shoulder region thereof (whereby raw materials or tools may be conveniently attached to the garment during various activities, as further described below).

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an article of clothing according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the article of clothing of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the article of clothing of FIG. 1 as converted into a totebag; and

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the article of clothing of FIG. 1 as employed to retain an item to the article of clothing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the general configuration of an article of clothing constructed according to the invention when employed as a pullover-type, waist-length garment. Front and back panels of the garment, l and 12 respectively, may be integral or separate pieces sewn together at the shoulders. Strips of cooperating sealing means, 14 and 16, are provided at the front and back waist edges of the garment respectively. Similar cooperating pairs of strip sealing means are provided at the sides of the garment extending vertically from the shoulder region to the waist. These pairs of cooperating strips are numbered 18, 20, and 22, 24 respectively. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the strip sealing means may advantageously be of the type which seals when pressure is applied at any point regardless of the sealed or unsealed condition of any other points on the strip. Such a product is commercially available under the name Velcro.

While in the preferred embodiment the strips 18, 20 and 22, 24 extend the entire vertical length of the garment, it will be clear from the description below that the substantial benefits of the invention may be achieved even if the strips only extend along the arm openings of the garment, i.e., from point A to point B in FIG. 1. With this arrangement, the front and back panels and 12 may be joined together in the region from point B to the waist line of the garment in any conventionalfashion (e.g., sewn).

As shown in FIG. 1 a flap 26 in the front waist portion of the garment provides a pouch. In the form illustrated, the pouch has three compartments 28, 30 and 32 which are separated by lines of stitching 34 and 36. The compartment 30 may advantageously have cooperating strips 31, 33 of sealing means along its upper, or open, edge 38.

As best seen in FIG. 2, a draw cord 40 is threaded through a channel 41 about the neck opening of the garment. The two ends 42 and 44 of draw cord 40 protrude from an opening 46 which communicates with the channel. While in FIG. 2 the draw cord 40 is illustrated as a true cordlike member, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that any extended piece of material (whether a cord, a strip, or whatever) may be substituted for the cord 40.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a work retaining loop 48 is provided at each shoulder of the garment. In FIGS. 1 and 2 the loops 48 have been collapsed and are retained by sealing means (described below) in a compact, serpentine form. The loops 48 may be of whatever length found convenient for the retaining uses contemplated. The loops comprise strips of material 50. which may simply be the same material as that of the panels I0 and 12. Attached to the lower side of the strip of material 50 is a strip sealing means 52. A cooperating strip-sealing means 54 is attached to the shoulder of the garment. Strips 52 and 54 are preferably of the same type as strips 18, 20 and 22, 24, as described above.

A typical use of the loop 48 may be described with reference to FIG. 4, which illustrates the loop as employed to retain a skein of yarn 56. (In FIG. 4 it is assumed that the customary paper band which serves to retain the skein is concealed by the loop 48). It will be readily seen that such a use of the loop 48 provides for the convenient handling of the yarn.

FIG. 3 illustrates the garment as converted into a totebag. The waist and arm openings have been completely closed by means of the sealing strips 14, l6; 18, 20; and 22, 24. The drawcord 40 is pulled right to restrict the neck opening and to provide an extended length to protruding ends 42, 44 so as to provide a convenient carrying cord.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that an article of clothing constructed according to the invention is subject to a multiplicity of uses. Thus, for example, when employed as an overgarment in the home, it prevents the soiling of a blouse or dress and simultaneously increases the wearers efficiency in a number of different tasks. As a specific example of this latter capacity, it may be noted that when the garment is worn by one engaged in such activities as knitting, sewing, or crocheting, the various materials needed may be retained by the loops 48 and the various implements employed may be kept in the compartments 28, 30 and 32 of the pouch thereby freeing the hands and organizing the materials so that temporary diversion from the work (e.g., answering a telephone) does not cause a complete disorganization of the work in progress.

When the garment is used by a seamstress, it has been found advantageous to use in combination with the garment a ball of styrofoam which is covered with a layer of yarn. The yarn adheres to the strip of sealing means (associated with the loop 48) at the shoulder of the garment and in that position provides a convenient receptacle for firmly and efficiently holding common pins.

The provision of cooperating strips of sealing means at the sides of the garment allows for easy adjustment of the size of the arm openings. This feature, of course, is important not only because different users of the garment may require different arm opening sizes, but also because different activities by any one user may require varying degrees of freedom in the movement of the arms so that a comfortable arm opening size for one activity may be restrictive in another activity.

The provision of the scalable compartment 30 in the pouch at the front waist portion of the garment, provides a convenient place for safe storage of money, a wallet, keys, etc. It is apparent, therefore, that an article of clothing according to the invention also provides for an alternative to the carrying of a purse or handbag by a woman. As such it may comprise a significant deterrent to the loss of important items due to theft of a purse or inadvertent leaving of a purse at one store when proceeding to another.

What is claimed is:

1. A sleeveless article of clothing having neck, waist, and arm openings and including waist opening sealing means and arm opening sealing means; said article of clothing being provided with a drawcord about said neck opening; whereby said article of clothing may be converted into a totebag, by sealing said waist and arm openings, in which said neck opening and drawcord provide a closable totebag opening.

2. The article of clothing as claimed in claim I including a pouch and sealing means therefor adjacent said waist opening.

3. The article of clothing as claimed in claim 1 including at least one adjustable work-retaining loop in the shoulder region thereof.

4. The article of clothing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm opening sealing means are extended down the respective 5 sides of the article to the waist opening thereof. 

1. A sleeveless article of clothing having neck, waist, and arm openings and including waist opening sealing means and arm opening sealing means; said article of clothing being provided with a drawcord about said neck opening; whereby said article of clothing may be converted into a totebag, by sealing said waist and arm openings, in which said neck opening and drawcord provide a closable totebag opening.
 2. The article of clothing as claimed in claim 1 including a pouch and sealing means therefor adjacent said waist opening.
 3. The article of clothing as claimed in claim 1 including at least one adjustable work-retaining loop in the shoulder region thereof.
 4. The article of clothing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm opening sealing means are extended down the respective sides of the article to the waist opening thereof. 